Alma mater

Meaning

The idiom "alma mater" refers to an alma mater school or university. It is often used as a term of endearment for one's school or university, particularly when referring to its graduates. The phrase comes from the Latin words "alma," meaning "nurturing or loving," and "mater," meaning "mother."

Usage

• As a noun: "I graduated from my alma mater last year."
• As an adjective: "The reunion was held at our alma mater's football stadium."
• As a possessive pronoun: "Our alma mater is known for its excellent engineering program."
• As a verb: "We decided to donate to our alma mater to help fund scholarships."
• In a sentence fragment: "It was great to see so many familiar faces at the reunion." The usage of "alma mater" can vary depending on the context. For example, it may be used in a casual conversation with friends and family or in a more formal setting such as a job interview. Additionally, the phrase can be used to express pride and loyalty to one's school or university.

Roots and History

The term "alma mater" was first used in English in the 19th century. It originated from Latin and was used by Roman scholars to refer to their alma mater, or mother school. Over time, the phrase became associated with universities and was used as a term of endearment for one's school.

Synonyms in English

• Alma mater: "home school," "alma mater institution," "institution of higher learning"
• Graduate: "degree holder," "college graduate," "university alumnus"

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "escuela de formación" (school of formation)
• French: "école supérieure" (superior school)
• German: "Universität" (university)
• Italian: "Università" (university)
• Japanese: "大学院校" (college or university)

Similar Idioms

• know which side one’s bread is buttered

• all set

• as bold as brass